Charge pump stage with body effect minimization

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a charge pump, the method including biasing a bulk of a charge pump stage so as to reduce body effect without forward biasing diodes of the charge pump stage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to charge pumps for boosting voltages in microelectronic circuitry, and particularly to a charge pump stage architecture with body effect minimization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Non-volatile memory arrays, such as erasable, programmable read only memory (EPROM) or flash memory arrays, or electrically erasable, programmable read only memory (EEPROM) arrays, require high positive or negative voltages to program and erase memory cells of the array. Typically, these voltages are higher than the voltage supplied (V_(dd)). Charge pumps are generally used to boost on-chip voltages above the supply voltage V_(dd) to reach the voltages required for programming or erasing.

[0003] A charge pump typically comprises cascaded stages that progressively boost the voltage to higher levels. The charge pump functions by progressively storing more charge on a capacitor which is part of a capacitor-diode combination, with several such stages being placed together in a network to obtain the desired increase in voltage. The diode functions to prevent discharge of the capacitor prior to placing the additional charge thereon.

[0004] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrate a commonly used charge pump architecture, called a four-phased-clock, threshold-voltage-canceling pump architecture, for a four-stage charge pump (see Umezawa, IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, Vol. 27, 1992, page 1540). FIG. 1A illustrates two stages of the charge pump in greater detail than FIG. 1B, which illustrates four stages of the charge pump.

[0005] The charge pump circuit includes a plurality of charge transfer transistors (reference letters m_(i)) connected in series. In FIG. 1B, four such charge transfer transistors are shown, labeled m₁, m₂, m₃ and m₄. Charge transfer transistors m₁ may use, but are not limited to, CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology, being either n-channel or p-channel (NMOS or PMOS) field effect transistors (FETs). (As explained further hereinbelow, NMOS is generally used to pump positive voltages, whereas PMOS is generally used to pump negative voltages.) The MOSFETs have a control electrode (gate, labeled g), a first electrode (drain, labeled d) and a second electrode (source, labeled s), connected to nodes, as described hereinbelow. (Since MOSFETs are typically symmetrical components, the true designation of “source” and “drain” is only possible once a voltage is impressed on the terminals of the transistors. The designations of source and drain throughout the specification should be interpreted, therefore, in the broadest sense.) Preferably, the bulks (labeled b) of the charge transfer transistors m_(i) are coupled to a reference line (shown as REF in FIG. 1A, but omitted for the sake of simplicity in FIG. 1B) for receiving a reference voltage, generally ground in the case of NMOS.

[0006]FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a positive charge pump based on NMOS. The source of charge transfer transistor m₁ is connected to node n₀, which is connected to V_(dd). The gate of charge transfer transistor m₁ is connected to node g₁, and the drain is connected to node n₁. The source of charge transfer transistor m₂ is connected to node n₁, the gate is connected to node g₂, and the drain is connected to node n₂. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1B, the source of charge transfer transistor m₃ is connected to node n₂, the gate to node g₃, and the drain to node n₃. Likewise, the source of charge transfer transistor m₄ is connected to node n₃, the gate to node g₄, and the drain to node n₄.

[0007] Two-phase, non-overlapping pulse trains PH₁ and PH₂ are provided, such as from a pulse generator (not shown). By non-overlapping it is meant that 0 to 1, and 1 to 0 voltage transitions of one pulse never overlap with the transitions of the other pulse. The PH₁ and PH₂ phases inject energy into the pump through large capacitors 5 into nodes n₁. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, a large capacitor 5 is connected from pulse train PH₁ to node n₁, and another large capacitor 5 is connected from pulse train PH₁ to node n₃. Another large capacitor 5 is connected from pulse train PH₂ to node n₂, and another large capacitor 5 is connected from pulse train PH₂ to node n₄. The charge is transferred along the pump through charge transfer transistors m₁ connecting node n_(i) to node n_(i+1).

[0008] Similarly, two-phase, non-overlapping pulse trains PH_(1A) and PH_(2A) are also provided. The PH_(1A) and PH_(2A) phases inject energy into the pump through small capacitors 11 into nodes g_(i). Capacitors 11 preferably have a much smaller capacitance than large capacitors 5. In the illustrated embodiment, a small capacitor 11 is connected from pulse train PH_(1A) to node g₂, and another small capacitor 11 is connected from pulse train PH_(1A) to node g₄. Another small capacitor 11 is connected from pulse train PH_(2A) to node g₁, and another small capacitor 11 is connected from pulse train PH_(2A) to node g₃.

[0009] As seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a plurality of auxiliary transistors t_(i) (i.e., t₁, t₂, t₃ and t₄) are provided. Each auxiliary transistor t_(i) has its drain connected to the gate node g_(i) of each charge transfer transistor m_(i) (i.e., m₁, m₂, m₃ and m₄, respectively). The source of each auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the source of each charge transfer transistor m_(i) (i.e., node n_(i−1)). The gate of each auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the drain of each charge transfer transistor m_(i) (i.e., node n_(i)). The bulk of each auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the bulk of each charge transfer transistor m_(i), which is generally grounded. The auxiliary transistors t_(i) and the PH_(1A) and PH_(2A) phases control the gate voltage of the charge transfer transistors m_(i).

[0010] The operation of the first stage of the pump is now explained, with all subsequent stages operating in the same manner. The operation commences with the PH₁ phase starting to rise. Initially, charge transfer transistors m₁ and m₂ are non-conducting (i.e., turned off), since the PH_(1A) and PH_(2A) phases are in their low phase. The PH₁ phase then fully rises and injects energy into node n₁, raising (or “pushing”) node n₁ to a voltage boosted above V_(dd), such as 2V_(dd). The rise of node n, forces node g, to V_(dd) through auxiliary transistor t₁. Since the source of charge transfer transistor m₁ is connected to V_(dd) at node n₀, the gate-source voltage bias V_(gs) of charge transfer transistor m₁ is zero, assuring that transistor m₁ is turned off.

[0011] After a short time, typically in the order of several nanoseconds, the PH_(1A) phase rises, which makes charge transfer transistor m₂ conduct (i.e., turns on). During this time, node n₁ is at a higher voltage than node n₂. Since, as just mentioned, charge transfer transistor m₂ is conducting, charge is transferred from node n₁ to node n₂. During the next phase, the PH₂ phase rises and the PH₁ phase drops. This causes node n₁ to drop and node n₂ to rise, thereby causing charge to be transferred from node n₂ to node n₃. In this manner charge is transferred along the pump. Each of the g₁ nodes is raised by a V_(dd) level with respect to the n_(i) nodes when charge transfer is taking place. In the latter stages of the pump, the source and drain nodes (i.e., nodes n₃ and n₄) are raised well above the bulk, which is usually grounded.

[0012] The large voltage difference between the high source/drain voltages and the low bulk voltage causes a problem, called the body or bulk effect, which is now explained. (The terms body and bulk are used interchangeably throughout the specification and claims.)

[0013] Positive charge pumps generally use NMOS transistors, and this requires the body of the charge transfer transistors to be at the lowest voltage, in general ground (GND). (Negative charge pumps have the opposite requirement, and PMOS transistors are generally used.) However, in positive charge pumps there can be a significant loss of energy in the latter pump stages due to the “body effect”. In NMOS, the body effect is an increase in the threshold voltage (V_(t)), due to the fact that the bulk or body of the transistor is at a lower voltage than the source. Due to the body effect, the threshold voltage V_(t) of the NMOS transistors progressively increases from the stages near the input terminal of the charge pump to the stages near the output terminal. For example, in the prior art charge pump of FIG. 1, the threshold voltage V_(t) of charge transfer transistors m₁ progressively increases from transistor m₁ to transistor m₄. In transistor m₄, as mentioned hereinabove, the source and drain nodes n₃ and n₄, have been raised well above the bulk. This reduces the efficiency of the charge pump, because, the voltage gain of each stage decreases, which means that a higher number of stages is necessary for generating a given voltage.

[0014] In some CMOS processes, such as triple-well and silicon-on-insulator (SOI), it is possible to raise the bulk of the NMOS charge transfer transistors above the grounded substrate, which would reduce the body effect by diminishing the voltage difference between the bulk and the source/drain. However, in the prior art, this entails certain risks. For example, if the bulk voltage is raised above the source or drain voltage, then parasitic bipolar transistors (typically used in CMOS circuitry) can turn on, which can cause either latchup or drain the charge from the pump.

[0015] In many circuits, not necessarily charge pumps, the bulk effect is eliminated by connecting the bulk node to the source node. This is not possible in a charge pump, however, because the “source” can be higher or lower than the “drain” by V_(dd), depending upon the clock cycle. This would cause parasitic diodes to turn on, resulting in the unwanted bipolar transistor turn-on and latchup.

[0016] One method for compensating for the body effect is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,251 to Park. Park uses charge pump stages coupled in series. Each charge pump stage has two clock terminals that receive two phase shifted clock signals. The charge pump stages are configured so that adjacent charge pump stages receive different clock signals. The phases of the clock signals are such that the pump elements are boosted well above the threshold voltage V_(t), thereby providing the transistors with sufficient overdrive to transfer energy along the pump. However, clock boosting uses a significant amount of power consumption and is thus very wasteful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention provides a novel charge pump stage for pumping high positive voltages, which minimizes the abovementioned body effect.

[0018] In the present invention, an NMOS transistor, preferably configured as a source follower, raises the bulk voltage of a charge pump stage to a level below or equal to the minimum of the source and drain voltage of the charge transfer transistor at that stage. In one embodiment, for triple-well technology, the body effect is reduced by raising P-wells of the NMOS transistors to a level below or equal to the minimum of the source/drain voltages of the entire clock cycle. This limits the increase of the threshold voltages (V_(t)) of the transistors at high voltage, which significantly improves pumping efficiency. At no point is the bulk voltage higher than the source/drain voltage.

[0019] There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for operating a charge pump, the method including biasing a bulk voltage of a charge pump stage so as to reduce body effect without forward biasing diodes of the charge pump stage.

[0020] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the bulk voltage of the charge pump stage is raised to a level below a minimum of source/drain voltages of a charge transfer transistor at that stage.

[0021] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a bulk voltage of a present charge pump stage is raised by using an output of a previous charge pump stage as an input to a gate of a source follower transistor to drive the bulk voltage of the present charge pump stage.

[0022] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an output of the source follower transistor is lower than an input of the source follower transistor by a threshold voltage V_(t).

[0023] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the charge pump stage employs triple-well transistors.

[0024] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention voltages of P-wells of the transistors are raised to a level not greater than the minimum of the source and drain voltages of the transistors.

[0025] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the transistors include NMOS (n-channel metal oxide semiconductor) transistors.

[0026] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a charge pump including a plurality of positive charge pump stages, each stage including at least one NMOS charge transfer transistor, wherein a bulk voltage of the at least one charge transfer transistor is raised to a level not greater than a minimum of a voltage level of a source and a drain of the at least one charge transfer transistor in that charge pump stage.

[0027] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is also provided a circuit that drives the bulk voltages.

[0028] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an input to a previous charge pump stage is used as an input to the circuit that drives the bulk of the present charge pump stage.

[0029] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the circuit includes a transistor configured as a source follower.

[0030] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the circuit includes at least one of a comparator, a level shifter, an operative amplifier (OP-AMP), and an inverting stage.

[0031] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at at least one of the charge pump stages, a gate of the source follower is driven by an input voltage and a source of the source follower drives the bulk.

[0032] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the input to a previous charge pump stage is applied to the gate of the source follower of the present charge pump stage.

[0033] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the source of the source follower drives the bulk of all transistors in the present charge pump stage.

[0034] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the bias on the gate of the source follower is an available voltage.

[0035] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a charge pump including a plurality of positive charge pump stages, each stage including at least one NMOS charge transfer transistor, wherein a bulk voltage of at least one of the charge pump stages is biased so as to reduce body effect without forward biasing diodes of that at least one charge pump stage.

[0036] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a bulk voltage of at least one of the charge transfer transistors is raised to a level not greater than a minimum of a voltage level of a source and a drain of the at least one charge transfer transistor in that charge pump stage.

[0037] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a charge pump including at least one positive charge pump stage including at least one NMOS charge transfer transistor m_(i), which includes a control terminal and first, second and third terminals, wherein the control terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m; is connected to a node g_(i), the first terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m; is connected to a node n_(i−1), the second terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m; is connected to a node n_(i), at least one source follower s_(i) including a control terminal and first, second and third terminals, wherein the control terminal of the at least one source follower s_(i) is driven by a first voltage, the first and third terminals of the at least one source follower s_(i) are connected through nodes p_(i) and q_(i) to the third terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), and the second terminal of the at least one source follower s_(i) is connected to a second voltage, at least one first pulse train adapted to inject energy into the pump via a first capacitor into node n_(i), at least one second pulse train adapted to inject energy into the pump via a second capacitor into node g_(i), at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) including a control terminal and first, second and third terminals, wherein the second terminal of the at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the control terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m; the first terminal of the at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the first terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), the control terminal of the at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the second terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), and the third terminal of the at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the third terminal of the at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i).

[0038] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for i>2, the control terminal of the at least one source follower s_(i) is driven by an input voltage from a previous stage, the input voltage being the input to the charge transfer transistor m_(i−2) at the n_(i−3) node.

[0039] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for i>2, the control terminal of the at least one source follower s_(i) is driven by an input voltage from a previous stage, the input voltage being the input to the charge transfer transistor m_(i−1) at a node previous to the n_(i−2) node.

[0040] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second voltage is at node g_(i).

[0041] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second voltage is at an output of the charge pump stage.

[0042] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second voltage is at an output or input of the charge pump.

[0043] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the control terminal includes a gate of the transistor, the first terminal includes a source of the transistor, the second terminal includes a drain of the transistor, and the third terminal includes a bulk of the transistor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

[0045]FIGS. 1A and 1B are simplified circuit diagrams of a charge pump architecture commonly used in the prior art, comprising a threshold-voltage-canceling four-phased charge pump, wherein FIG. 1A illustrates two stages of the charge pump and FIG. 1B illustrates four stages of the charge pump;

[0046]FIG. 2A is a simplified circuit diagram of a single-stage charge pump, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0047]FIG. 2B is a simplified circuit diagram of a multi-stage charge pump, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0048]FIG. 3 is a simplified circuit diagram of a source follower useful in the charge pump of FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0049]FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of one embodiment of charge transfer transistors of the charge pump of the present invention, that of a triple-well NMOS transistor;

[0050]FIG. 5 is a simplified circuit diagram of a multi-stage charge pump, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0051]FIG. 6 is a simplified graphical illustration of simulated waveforms for the charge pumps of FIGS. 2B and 5, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0052] The charge transfer transistors of the present invention are preferably NMOS transistors that have a P-well (PW) isolated from a P-substrate of the integrated circuit (IC), as is now described. This allows independent biasing of the specific NMOS transistor's bulk with respect to the substrate of the IC, which is preferably always grounded.

[0053] One way of isolating the P-well from the P-substrate is illustrated in FIG. 4, to which reference is now made. In this embodiment, each charge transfer transistor is a triple-well NMOS transistor 14. Transistor 14 includes a P-well isolated from a P-substrate by an N-well. Two n⁺ regions are preferably formed in the P-well for connecting to the source and drain. A p⁺ region is preferably formed in the P-well for connecting to the bulk. An n⁺ region is preferably formed in the N-well, which is connected to a voltage equal to or higher than p⁺.

[0054] Other transistor architectures may be used to carry out the invention other than triple-well technology. For example, the P-well may be isolated from the P-substrate by an SOI structure. SOI is very well known in the art. One example is an SOS (silicon-on-sapphire) structure formed by heteroepitaxy of silicon on a monocrystalline sapphire substrate by CVD (chemical vapor deposition). Another example is that of SIMOX (separation by ion-implanted oxygen) in which an SiO₂ layer is formed by ion implantation of oxygen into a silicon monocrystalline substrate.

[0055] Reference is now made to FIG. 2A, which illustrates a single-stage of a charge pump 9 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Charge pump 9 preferably includes an NMOS charge transfer transistor m_(i) whose source is connected to node n_(i−1). The gate of charge transfer transistor m; is connected to node g_(i), and the drain is connected to node n_(i). A pulse train PH injects energy into the pump through a large capacitor 5 connected to node n_(i). Another pulse trains PHA injects energy into the pump through a small capacitor 11 into node g_(i).

[0057] An auxiliary transistor t_(i) has its drain connected to the gate node g_(i) of charge transfer transistor m_(i). The source of auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the source of charge transfer transistor m_(i) (i.e., node n_(i−1)). The gate of auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the drain of charge transfer transistor m_(i) (i.e., node n_(i)). The auxiliary transistor t_(i) and the PHA phase control the gate voltage of the charge transfer transistor m_(i).

[0058] Charge pump 9 includes an additional transistor s_(i), preferably configured as a source follower. A source follower is a method of configuring a FET, wherein the output voltage is at the source, and it “follows” the input voltage, which is connected to the gate. By “following” it is meant that the output voltage equals the input voltage minus the threshold voltage. In the present invention, the input of the source follower s_(i) is from a previous pump stage and is used to drive the bulk of a subsequent pump stage, as is described more in detail hereinbelow with reference to the multi-stage charge pump of FIG. 2B.

[0059] In the circuitry of FIG. 2A, the gate of source follower s_(i) is connected to node n_(i−2), which may receive some bias voltage. The source and bulk of source follower s_(i) are connected to the bulk of charge transfer transistor m_(i) and to the bulk of auxiliary transistor t_(i) via a node p_(i) and a node q_(i). Node p_(i) may be connected to a bleeder element 12, which may be a current source, and which is described further hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 3. The drain of source follower s_(i) is connected to a high voltage, such as at a node w_(i), which may be the pump output or the stage output or input, for example.

[0060] Reference is now made to FIG. 2B, which illustrates a multi-stage charge pump 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Charge pump 10, as seen in FIG. 2B, preferably has the basic construction of the prior art charge pump shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B. However, charge pump 10 differs from the prior art in that the circuitry of charge pump 10 includes an additional transistor s_(i), preferably configured as a source follower. In the present invention, the input of the source follower s_(i) is from a previous pump stage and is used to drive the bulk of a subsequent pump stage, as is described hereinbelow. The source followers s_(i) (i.e., s₁, s₂, s₃ and s₄, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B) may also be, although not necessarily, NMOS transistors.

[0062] It is appreciated by the skilled artisan that although charge pump 10 is illustrated and described as having the basic construction of the prior art charge pump shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B, with the addition of the source followers s_(i), nevertheless this is only done for the sake of convenience and simplicity, and the invention is not limited to the circuitry shown in FIG. 2B.

[0063] In the circuitry of FIG. 2B, in addition to the circuitry shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B, the gate of source follower s_(i) is connected to a bias voltage V_(b1). The source and bulk of source follower s₁ are connected to the bulk of charge transfer transistor m₁ and to the bulk of auxiliary transistor t₁ via a node p_(i) and a node q₁. Node p_(i) may be connected to a bleeder element 12, which may be a current source, and which is described further hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 3. The drain of source follower s_(i) is connected to a high voltage, such as at a node w₁ connected to the source of auxiliary transistor t₂ (as shown in FIG. 2B), which may be the pump output or the stage output, or node g, connected to the drain of auxiliary transistor t₁, for example. It is noted that throughout the specification and claims, the “gate” of a transistor is also generally referred to as a control terminal, and the “source”, “drain” and “bulk” are referred to as terminals.

[0064] The gate of source follower s₂ is connected to a bias voltage V_(b2). The source and bulk of source follower s₂ are connected to the bulk of charge transfer transistor m₂ and to the bulk of auxiliary transistor t₂ via a node p₂ and a node q₂. Node p₂ may be connected to a bleeder element 12. The drain of source follower s₂ is connected to a high voltage, such as at node w₂ connected to the source of auxiliary transistor t₃ (as shown in FIG. 2B), or node g₂ connected to the drain of auxiliary transistor t₂, for example.

[0065] The gate of source follower s₃ is connected to node n₁, which means that the gate of source follower s₃ is connected to the source of charge transistor m₂. The source and bulk of source follower s₃ are connected to the bulk of charge transfer transistor m₃ and to the bulk of auxiliary transistor t₃ via a node p₃ and a node q₃. Node p₃ may be connected to a bleeder element 12. The drain of source follower s₃ is connected to a high voltage, such as at node w₃ connected to the source of auxiliary transistor 4 (as shown in FIG. 2B), or node g₃ connected to the drain of auxiliary transistor t₃, for example.

[0066] Similarly, the gate of source follower s₄ is connected to node n₂, which means that the gate of source follower s₄ is connected to the source of charge transistor m₃. The source and bulk of source follower s₄ are connected to the bulk of charge transfer transistor m₄ via a node p₄ and a node q₄. Node p₄ may be connected to a bleeder element 12. The drain of source follower s₄ is connected to a high voltage, such as at node w₄ connected to the source of another auxiliary transistor t₅ (not shown in FIG. 2B), or node g₄ connected to the drain of auxiliary transistor 4, for example.

[0067] It is seen that for i>2, the gate of each source follower s_(i) (s₃ or s₄, in FIG. 2B) at the present stage (i.e., the i stage) is, driven by an input voltage from the previous stage (i.e., the input to the charge transfer transistor m_(i−1) at the i−1 stage, connected to the n_(i−2) node). The source of each source follower s_(i) at the present stage (i.e., the i stage) drives the bulk of the present stage (i.e., the i stage). The drain of each source follower s_(i) is connected to a high voltage, such as at a node w_(i), which may be the pump output or the stage output, for example.

[0068] The bias voltages V_(b1) and V_(b2), which drive the gate of source followers s₁ and s₂, respectively, may be from some intermediate available voltage that drives the P-well of the charge transfer transistors m₁ and m₂, respectively, to a level not greater than the minimum of the source and drain of that charge transfer transistor (m₁ or m₂, respectively). It is also possible that V_(b2) is connected to V_(dd) at node n₀.

[0069] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates source follower s_(i) in more detail. Source follower s_(i) receives an input voltage V_(in) at its gate g, and outputs an output voltage V_(out) at its source s, wherein the output voltage V_(out) is lower than the input voltage V_(in) by the threshold voltage V_(t). The source of source follower s_(i) may be connected to a bleeder element 12, which may be a current source (as shown in the illustration), current drain, resistor, transistor and the like. Once the output of the source follower s_(i) reaches the output voltage V_(out) (which equals V_(in)−V_(t)), then the potential between the gate and the source (V_(gs)) of the source follower s_(i) adjusts itself to drive the current source load. When this load is small, then the gate-source bias V_(gs) of the source follower s_(i) is several mV above the threshold voltage V_(t).

[0070] Referring again to FIG. 2B, it is seen that in terms of the terminology of FIG. 3, the input voltage V_(in) for the source follower s_(i) at each charge pump stage (after charge transfer transistors m₁ and m₂) is the source voltage of the charge transfer transistor m_(i−1) of the previous charge pump stage. The input voltages V_(in) for the source followers s₁ and s₂ are preferably bias voltages V_(b1) and V_(b2), as mentioned above. The output voltage V_(out) of each source follower s_(i) is less than or equal to the voltage V_(in), because V_(out)=V_(in)−V_(t). The output voltage V_(out) drives the bulk of the present stage.

[0071] Reference is now made to FIG. 6 which illustrates simulated waveforms for the charge pump 10 (or the charge pump which will be described with reference to FIG. 5), in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that when comparing node n_(i−2) to node n_(i−1), the average voltage of node n_(i−1) is greater than that of node n_(i−2). However, during the stage when charge is transferred from node n_(i−2) to node n_(i−1), the voltage of node n_(i−2) is briefly higher than that of node n_(i−1) for a short transient period, such transient periods being designated by reference numeral 15 in FIG. 6. During the transient period 15, the source follower s_(i) is conducting, and the source voltage of source follower s_(i) is raised to a level of V_(in)−V_(t), or in other words, the voltage of node n_(i−2) minus the threshold voltage V_(t). The source follower s_(i) may be constructed such that the voltage value (n_(i−2)−V_(t)) during the transient period 15 is always less than the minimum voltage of nodes n_(i−1) and n_(i). If the voltage value (n_(i−2)−V_(t)) is determined to be above the minimum of the source and drain voltages of the n_(i) stage, then the input to source follower s_(i) may be connected to node n_(i−3) or n_(i−4) and so forth.

[0072] During all other points in the cycle, the voltage of node n_(i−2) drops below the PW voltage and the source follower s_(i) is in a non-conducting state. Since the source follower s_(i) is a small transistor driving a primarily capacitive load, the amount of current consumption it requires is negligible.

[0073] It follows that in the present invention, the voltage level of the bulk of each charge transfer transistor m; is raised to a level not greater than the minimum of the voltage level of the source and drain of that charge transfer transistor m_(i). The architecture of the present invention ensures that the P-well/bulk of each charge pump stage is raised to a level less than or equal to the minimum, during the entire clock cycle, of the source/drain voltage at that stage, which minimizes the bulk effect, and at the same time ensures that no diodes are forward biased.

[0074] Ensuring that the voltage level of the bulk of each charge transfer transistor m_(i) is raised to a level not greater than the minimum of the voltage level of the source and drain of that charge transfer transistor m; may be carried out with other circuit elements other than a source follower. For example, as seen in FIG. 4, the bulk of the charge transfer transistor 14 may be driven by a comparator, level shifter, operative amplifier (OP-AMP), inverting stage and the like.

[0075] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which illustrates a charge pump 20 constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Charge pump 20, as seen in FIG. 5, preferably has the basic construction of charge pump 10 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2B. However, charge pump 20 differs from charge pump 10 in that the bias on the gate of source follower s_(i) is not from node n_(i−2), but rather from some other intermediate available voltage V_(ji) (in FIG. 5, V_(j1), V_(j2), V_(j3) and V_(j4)). Voltage V_(ji) drives the P-well of the charge transfer transistors to a level not greater than the source/drain (i.e., the minimum of the source and drain) of the charge transfer transistors of that charge pump stage. In a preferred embodiment, as in FIG. 2B, V_(ji) is the voltage from node ni-2. Another possibility within the scope of the invention is that the bias on the drain of source follower s_(i) is not connected to node w₁ or g₁, but rather to some other available high voltage V_(hi) (in FIG. 5, V_(h1), V_(h2), V_(h3) and V_(h4)). In a preferred embodiment, V_(hi) is the voltage from node g_(i), but may alternatively be the voltage from node n_(i) or from the pump output, for example. The skilled artisan will appreciate that these are just examples of many other variations possible within the scope of the invention.

[0076] It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art, that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a charge pump, the method comprising: biasing a bulk voltage of a charge pump stage so as to reduce body effect without forward biasing diodes of said charge pump stage.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bulk voltage of said charge pump stage is raised to a level below a minimum of source/drain voltages of a charge transfer transistor at that stage.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein a bulk voltage of a present charge pump stage is raised by using an output of a previous charge pump stage as an input to a gate of a source follower transistor to drive the bulk voltage of the present charge pump stage.
 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein an output of said source follower transistor is lower than an input of said source follower transistor by a threshold voltage V_(t).
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said charge pump stage employs triple-well transistors.
 6. The method according to claim 5 wherein voltages of P-wells of said transistors are raised to a level not greater than the minimum of the source and drain voltages of said transistors.
 7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said transistors comprise NMOS (n-channel metal oxide semiconductor) transistors.
 8. A charge pump comprising: a plurality of positive charge pump stages, each stage comprising at least one NMOS charge transfer transistor, wherein a bulk voltage of said at least one charge transfer transistor is raised to a level not greater than a minimum of a voltage level of a source and a drain of said at least one charge transfer transistor in that charge pump stage.
 9. The charge pump according to claim 8 and further comprising a circuit that drives said bulk voltages.
 10. The charge pump according to claim 9 wherein an input to a previous charge pump stage is used as an input to said circuit that drives the bulk of the present charge pump stage.
 11. The charge pump according to claim 9 wherein said circuit comprises a transistor configured as a source follower.
 12. The charge pump according to claim 9 wherein said circuit comprises at least one of a comparator, a level shifter, an operative amplifier (OP-AMP), and an inverting stage.
 13. The charge pump according to claim 11 wherein, at at least one of said charge pump stages, a gate of said source follower is driven by an input voltage and a source of said source follower drives said bulk.
 14. The charge pump according to claim 13 wherein the input to a previous charge pump stage is applied to the gate of said source follower of the present charge pump stage.
 15. The charge pump according to claim 13 wherein the source of said source follower drives the bulk of all transistors in the present charge pump stage.
 16. The charge pump according to claim 13 wherein the bias on the gate of said source follower is an available voltage.
 17. A charge pump comprising: a plurality of positive charge pump stages, each stage comprising at least one NMOS charge transfer transistor, wherein a bulk voltage of at least one of said charge pump stages is biased so as to reduce body effect without forward biasing diodes of that at least one charge pump stage.
 18. The charge pump according to claim 17 wherein a bulk voltage of at least one of said charge transfer transistors is raised to a level not greater than a minimum of a voltage level of a source and a drain of said at least one charge transfer transistor in that charge pump stage.
 19. The charge pump according to claim 17 and further comprising a circuit that drives said bulk voltages.
 20. The charge pump according to claim 19 wherein an input to a previous charge pump stage is used as an input to said circuit that drives the bulk of the present charge pump stage.
 21. The charge pump according to claim 19 wherein said circuit comprises a transistor configured as a source follower.
 22. The charge pump according to claim 19 wherein said circuit comprises at least one of a comparator, a level shifter, an operative amplifier (OP-AMP), and an inverting stage.
 23. The charge pump according to claim 21 wherein, at at least one of said charge pump stages, a gate of said source follower is driven by an input voltage and a source of said source follower drives said bulk.
 24. The charge pump according to claim 23 wherein the input to a previous charge pump stage is applied to the gate of said source follower of the present charge pump stage.
 25. The charge pump according to claim 23 wherein the source of said source follower drives the bulk of the present charge pump stage.
 26. The charge pump according to claim 23 wherein the bias on the gate of said source follower is an available voltage.
 27. A charge pump comprising: at least one positive charge pump stage comprising at least one NMOS charge transfer transistor m_(i), which comprises a control terminal and first, second and third terminals, wherein said control terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i) is connected to a node g_(i), said first terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m; is connected to a node n_(i−1), said second terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i) is connected to a node n_(i); at least one source follower s_(i) comprising a control terminal and first, second and third terminals, wherein said control terminal of said at least one source follower s_(i) is driven by a first voltage, said first and third terminals of said at least one source follower s_(i) are connected through nodes p_(i) and q_(i) to said third terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), and said second terminal of said at least one source follower s_(i) is connected to a second voltage; at least one first pulse train adapted to inject energy into the pump via a first capacitor into node n_(i); at least one second pulse train adapted to inject energy into the pump via a second capacitor into node g_(i); at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) comprising a control terminal and first, second and third terminals, wherein said second terminal of said at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the control terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), said first terminal of said at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the first terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), the control terminal of said at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the second terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i), and the third terminal of said at least one auxiliary transistor t_(i) is connected to the third terminal of said at least one charge transfer transistor m_(i).
 28. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein for i>2, said control terminal of said at least one source follower s_(i) is driven by an input voltage from a previous stage, said input voltage being the input to the charge transfer transistor m_(i−2) at the n_(i−3) node.
 29. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein for i>2, said control terminal of said at least one source follower s_(i) is driven by an input voltage from a previous stage, said input voltage being the input to the charge transfer transistor m_(i−1) at a node previous to the n_(i−2) node.
 30. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein said second voltage is at node g_(i).
 31. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein said second voltage is at an output of said charge pump stage.
 32. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein said second voltage is at an output of said charge pump.
 33. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein said second voltage is at an input of said charge pump.
 34. The charge pump according to claim 27 wherein said control terminal comprises a gate of said transistor, said first terminal comprises a source of said transistor, said second terminal comprises a drain of said transistor, and said third terminal comprises a bulk of said transistor. 